Job and Career Search Help Desk at the Thornton Library
Oxford, NC –
Residents of Granville County needing help with job search activities online have a new source for assistance. Beginning Tuesday, June 7th, the Thornton Library in Oxford will debut a new service, the Job and Career Search Help Desk.
“Job searching in today’s economy can be challenging for anyone,” Deana Cunningham, Adult Services Librarian, notes. “Compound that with a lack of computer skills and the process can be overwhelming.” Many jobs require completing an online application or sending a resume by e-mail, and adults who are returning to the job market due to layoffs or a change in household status may never have had to use a computer for this purpose. “Although the Employment Security Commission and JobLink site provide this type of assistance whenever they can, we field requests every day for help in this area,” Tresia Dodson, Library Director, added. “We hope that by offering individual appointments we can help people get a little farther down the road to independence in their virtual job search.”
In addition, the library system recently received a grant to spend on print resources to update their job and career search materials. The grant money was provided by the Library Services and Technology Act and administered by the State Library of North Carolina. New materials have been purchased for all four library branches including resume and cover letter preparation, interviewing techniques, career exploration, and becoming an entrepreneur. Test preparation titles, study guides and new copies of classic literature were also purchased. “Our goal is to support every resident of Granville County in their hunt for the perfect career.” Deana Cunningham said. “By helping high school students get their recommended reading we are making it easier for them to get their high school diploma, which is an important step down the road to their future career.”
The Job and Career Search Help Desk will be open for business on Tuesdays from noon till 4:30 p.m. beginning June 7th. Appointments are necessary and will only last for half an hour. Activities that can be covered during an appointment include setting up a free e-mail account, creating a resume and cover letter, and filling in online employment applications. In addition, library staff can point people to resources they might not be aware of.
For more information or to make an appointment for the Job and Career Search Help Desk, contact the library at (919) 693-1121.